New Delhi, Sept 29: India on Monday announced its joint plan with Bhutan to implement two cross-border rail links of total 89-km length with Bhutan.
The proposed projects will bridge cities of Samtse and Gelephu in Bhutan with India at a cost of more than Rs 4,000 crore.
Railway MinisterAshwini Vaishnaw and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri informed today in at a media briefing.
The two governments have agreed to establish two cross-border rail links to connect Banarhat (West Bengal) to Samtse and Kokrajhar (Assam) with Gelephu, Misri said.
"India and Bhutan share a relationship of exceptional trust, mutual respect and understanding," he said.
The agreement for setting up of the rail links was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bhutan last year.
Vaishnaw said the projects will take off from the network of Indian Railways. The investment envisaged at this point is about Rs 4,033 crore, he said.
While Samtse has big industrial potential, Gelephu is a new city which is getting developed that share trade & tariff with India, the Railway Minister added.
Providing details of the first 69-km-long line between Kokrajhar and Gelephu, Vaishnaw said that there will be six stations between the two cities and the construction of the complete line will involve two important bridges, two viaducts, 29 major bridges, 65 minor bridges, two goodsheds, one road-over-bridge (ROB) and 39 road-under-bridges (RUBs).
It will be completed in four years with an investment of Rs 3,456 crore and 2.39 km out of 69 km will be on Bhutanese side.
Vaishnaw informed the media that the second line between Banarhat to Samtse will be 20 km long with two stations in between. It will be almost completed within three years at Rs 577 crore cost.
Tags: prameyanews Travel
